I haven't had a chance to get out and do much bird observation this fall, and if the birds are as confused by our weather as the plants are, then we have an odd mix. We have had a drought for months and apart from some very hard freezes, it has been unseasonably warm.

I did hear a throaty owl in a tree behind the house (over the creek) that was driving the dogs nuts. Robins are here most of the year, except in hot summer, and they're back now. Grackles, starlings, the usual suspects. I notice over at the big mall in the area one regularly hears an outdoor broadcast of a hawk's screech--intended to keep the grackles and starlings out of the parking lot trees. It does seem to work, and adds an interesting wildland adventure feel to the trip to the mall. ;)

SRS